More lives were lost on the A9 over a five-year period than any other road in Scotland, according to the latest government figures.

From 2002 to 2006, 69 people died as a result of accidents on the route, which runs from north of Stirling to Thurso.

On the A90 there were 63 deaths, 46 people were killed on the A82, and 41 on the A77.

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has demanded immediate action to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

The statistics were released in response to a parliamentary question by the member for Mid Scotland and Fife.

  Major improvements are already under way on the A9 and that is why this government is absolutely committed to plan for dualling the A9

The figures also showed that over the five years there were more than 1,000 accidents on the road.

"This is a sad accolade to hold and the A9 has been claiming too many lives for too long," Mr Fraser said.

"Not only is the personal injury unbearable to the families affected by the accidents, but the cost on our public services to attend and sort each accident out is massive.

"I believe that if a train line in Scotland witnessed the same number of deaths as the A9 does then something would be done to reduce the fatality rate.

"However, the Scottish Government is still dragging its feet in plans to dual the road in its entirety from Perth to Inverness."

'Top priority'

A Scottish Government spokesman replied: "The safety of Scotland's roads is a top priority.

"That is why major improvements are already under way on the A9 and that is why this government is absolutely committed to plan for dualling the A9.

"We have already taken action to improve the sections at Ballinluig and Helmsdale and brought forward work on dualling the Birnam to Luncarty section.

"Options for dualling the A9 will emerge from the strategic transport projects review in the summer."

The spokesman said that although the A9 had the highest number of fatalities, it was not necessarily Scotland's most dangerous road because of its length.

Other, shorter roads may have a higher number of accidents per mile

Published Date: 21 July 2008
By CLAIRE SMITH
THE deaths of a man and his step-daughter in a head-on collision near Dalwhinnie have led to renewed calls for the notorious A9 to be upgraded to a dual carriageway.
Murdo Fraser MSP, the Scottish Tories' deputy leader, said there was a "compelling case on the grounds of road safety" for the road to be upgraded.

He added: "This latest tragic accident is just another reason why that work should be started as soon as possible."

The man and his stepdaughter, who have not been named, were travelling from England for a family holiday in the Highlands when their car was hit by an oncoming vehicle.

A woman and another girl who were also travelling in the Hyundai 4x4 were taken to hospital, but their injuries were not said to be life-threatening.

Mr Fraser said the latest statistics showed that accidents were four times more likely to happen on stretches of the A9 which were single carriageway.

Meanwhile, police yesterday appealed for witnesses to another fatal crash in which a man died after his car hit a tree. Mark McDonald, 24, from Pollok, appeared to lose control of his vehicle in the accident, which happened on the Barrhead Road in Glasgow at 8:10am.

In a further incident yesterday, a 60-year-old man died after a crash on the M74 at Crawford in South Lanarkshire. The man lost control of his Toyota Landcruiser on the motorway at around 6:10am.

His passengers – his wife and two children aged 14 and 18 – were said to be uninjured.